Apparatus for removing solids from liquids in settling tanks and the like



Nov. 24, 1,953 R. KNowLToN A APPARATUS FOR REMovINc; soLIns FRoMuQUIDs IN SETTLING TANKS AND THE LIKE' Filed April 16, 1952 ATTORNEY Nov. 24, v1953 L.. KNowLToN 2 APPARATUS REMOVING soLIDs 0M LIQUIDS IN SETTLING TANKS AND T LIKE- Filed April 16, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HUC/20rd L. Know/fon.

. INVENTOR.

Nov. v2111-), 1953 n. KNowLToN 2,660,557 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SOLIDS FROM LIQUID-S IN SETTLING TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed April 16, 1952 3 ShQebS-Shei'. 3

/ITTR/VEY Patented Nov. 24, 1953 OFFICE' APPARATUS FOR mnuovINdl somos FROM "sinnlos I N sommo. Tennis Ann LIKE Richard L. Knowlton, Fort Worth, Tex., assigner'.

to Texas A. &

M. Research Eoundation, College Station, Bisson Qlntv, Tes! attivate ration Application April 16, 1952, Serial No. 282,660.

8 Claims. (Cl.

This invention relates to. apparatusl forv removing solids from liquids and, more particularly, f or removing solids from liquids in settling or sedie mentation tanks and the like.

Apparatus of this character` have wide commercial application, especially in the. field of sanitation and sewerage, and inthe various chemical, petroleum, metallurgical andy other industries, as well as in various fields of; research.

In using apparatus of this character commerf cially, it is desirable to provide an apparatus for removing solids from liquids in settling or Sedimentation tanks and the like, which apparatus periodically scrapes the. ioor orv solid collecting surface of the tank, which is simple and economic of operation, which will not cause` undue agitation ofsettled solids and which is automatic in operation. It is also desirable to provide an apparatus of this character Which may readily be adapted and adjusted for use in settling and sedimentation tanks of Widely varied shape and size, and in tanks which may be varied in size and shape, for example, in research Work, in which a minimum of parts of varying dimensions may be replaced in making the adjustment. Moreover., it is extremely desirable to provide such an apparatus in which the means to drive the carriage and scraper night is located so that it does not pass through the material being settled thereby eliminating troublesome corrosion problems. Additionally, it is desirable to` provide such an apparatus which may be easily and readily repaired and which apparatus or its parts may be removed and repaired without draining the basin to which it is attached.

It is also desirable to provide an apparatus of this character which is readily and easily adapted for use With basins or tanks originally designed `for manual cleaning, which condition exists in 'many water and other treating plants, thereby 'enhancing the possibilities of converting certain :septic tanks to sedimentation basins with a mini- :mum of structural changes.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of the vpresent invention to provide an apparatus for removing solids from liquids in settling ory sedimentation tanks and the like Whioh is simple of (QISU-@on and eonomic 1.3! make, QDBWCH inanitolnf A further and important object of the present invention is the provision or an apparatus of this character which is readily and easily ,adapted for use in tanks, basins and the like of widely varied size and Shana ond which onnorstns .nav be. nos

2 justed byv replacing or. substituting a minimum of'narts.-

lot o further and important obieot of tno present. invention is the provision or an apparatus of this @haras-tol. in which the driving Ineens. fol.' the scrapers, located so that it doos not ness through the material being settled thereby avoid; ingl troublesome oorrosion problems.

A still further and important obioot of the prosent, invention is. tno provision of an apparatus oi this ohornotonin vhion a portion of. or tno entire apparatus., readily be removed. formaking repairs, replacements or adjustments WthoptY draining the tank. or basin in which it is onoratma,

A. further obioot of: the present invention is the nrorison of: apparatus for removing solids from liquids in settling or sedimentation tanks and the like, which, rooinrooatos alone the tank, tno Soraron nient heine in o lowered position and scraping the bottoni or solid collecting surfaceoi tile tank vinilo., moving in ons direction, and boing elevated when moving in the other direction to avoidastntion of the solids- A further object of the present invention is the prorislon of sich nn apparatus which is autoinetilo in operation Other and, fnrthenohieots will be an-parentfroin the following description ofone form of the invnltony given as. an example for the purpose of disclosure, taken in connection with the accom; Banville drawings which like Character rofsrf @noos designate like nar-ts throughout the several views, and Where Eig. l is a perspective View, With parts broken y away, illustrating apparatus for removing solids from liquids. in settling or sedimentation tanks and the like constructed in accordance with the invention and shown in scraping position,

liigs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary longitudinal sections, Qt the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l, Fig. 2 illustrating the apparatus when the scraper. is elevated and Fig. 3 illustrating such apparatus when the scraper is in scraping position,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail illustrating a suitable drive arrangement and a reversing arrangement therefor tov provide reciprocation for the apparatus along a settling or sedimentation tools or like structure.,

Eig. 5 is a plan view ci the structure illustrated in Fie. 4, and

' Eig. 6 illustratesl suitable engaging structure in connection with elevating the scraper flight.

1n general, apparatus constructed accord,-`

. 111g; t9. @he Present invention noluslos. a Carriage reciprocable along a settling or sedimentation tank or like structure, which carriage carries a depending scraper night which may be elevated away from or lowered to engage the bottom or solid collecting surface of the tank or like structure. Means are provided to raise and lower the scraper flight so that when the carriage is moving in one direction, the scraper flight is elevated and when moving in the other direction the scraper flight is lowered to scrape solids on the solid collecting surface or bottom. Means may also be provided for automatically reciprocating the carriage along the tank.

Referring to Fig. l, the reference numeral I5 designates a settling or sedimentation tank particularly adapted for use in sewerage disposal apparatus, although it is understood that the apparatus of the present invention may have a general and widespread commercial application. An inlet port I2 is provided at one end of the tank IS for the influent mixture of the liquid and solids, and an outlet port I4 is provided at the opposite end for the flow of effluent from the tank I3. The influent port i2 is illustrated as being substantially over the sump or sludge hopper I6 disposed at one end of the bottom or solid collecting surface E53 of the tank I0. Thus, the heavier solids upon entering the influent port I2 will immediately settle into the sump or sludge hopper IG, although it will be understood that the influent and eiluent ports may be reversed or any desired arrangement of iniiuent and eiiluent ports and hopper may be used.

Reciprocable along the tank I0 is a carriage generally indicated by the reference numeral 20, which includes a main axle 22 and a forward axle 24 to each end of which are secured the rollers 2S and 28, respectively. The carriage thus moves back and forth or reciprocates by means of the spaced rollers 26 and 28 rolling on the upper surface 3G of the tops of the walls of the tank I0.

The axles 22 and 24 are rigidly secured together by means of the spaced arms 32 secured to the bushings 34 and 36 through which the axles 22 and 24, respectively, are journaled.

Extending downwardly from the carriage 20 and, as illustrated, from the bushings 34 are a pair of spaced upper carrier arms 38, to which at their lower ends the lower carrier arms 40 are slideably secured. The lower carrier arms 4! may be secured to the upper carrier arms 38 in any preferred manner to provide longitudinal sliding therewith and, as illustrated, telescoping the arms 38 and. 4E! is satisfactory.

Secured to the lower portion of the lower carrier arms 40 is a scraper flight which engages and scrapes the bottom or solid collecting surface I8 of the tank I@ and which, preferably, extends laterally across the tank.

The upper carrier arms 38 are linked to the forward axle 24 by means of the linking arms 44 extending from the upper carrier arms 38 to the bushings 35 in which the forward axle 24 is journaled. Thus, the carriage is reciprocal along the tank and carries the scraper flight 42.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the scraper flight 42 engages the bottom or solid collecting surface I8 of the tank IB when moving in a direction toward the sludge hopper I E and means are provided to elevate the scraper flight when the carriage is being moved in a direction away from the hopper I 6. A preferred manner of providing the means to elevate the scraper flight 42 is the provision of the lifter links 46 which are pivotly secured at their lower ends to the projecting lugs 48 disposed at the upper ends of the lower carrier arms 4. The upper ends of the lifter links 46 are pivotly secured to the lifter arms 50 which extend outwardly and forwardly from the sleeve 52 which is rotatively secured about the main axle 22. Thus, rotation of the sleeve 52 about the axle 22 will effect a raising or lowering motion to the lower carrier arms 4G by means of the upward or downward movement of the lifter arms 5i). As illustrated, the lifter arms 46 generally extend upwardly and forwardly, in the direction of scraping movement, but these arms are bowed slightly backwardly adjacent their upper portions to effect a gravity lock in elevated position, as best seen in Fig. 2.

In order that the rotating sleeve 52 may be rotated to elevate or lower the scraper ilight 42, a rotator arm 54 is rigidly secured to the rotating sleeve 52 and extends generally upwardly and forwardly therefrom at a desired angle. The rotator arm is engaged by the rotator stop 56 positioned at the end of the tank proximate the hopper i6, and which rotator stop extends in the direction of the rotator arm and engages the rotator arm as it moves toward that end of its scraping flight.

As best seen in Fig. 6, the rotator arm 54 has a socket member 53 which engages the ball member 65 disposed at the extending end of the rotator stop 56. Thus, a ball and socket action is provided as the rotator arm 54 engages the rotator stop 55, the continued movement of the rotator arm forwardly effecting a rotation of the sleeve 52 and thereby elevating the lower carrier arms 40 and the flight 42.

At the other end of the tank or basin I0 a reverse rotator stop 62 is provided which engages the back of the rotator arm 54, thereby tilting the rotator arm, breaking the gravity lock and permitting the lower carrier arms and flight to drop to the position shown in Fig. l.

Means are provided to reciprocate the carriage and scraper flight along the tank and, as illustrated, a prime mover, generally indicated by the numeral 64 is provided, which may be of the reversible motor-reducer drive unit type. While any preferred drive linkage may be provided, for the purpose of illustration, the drive shaft G6 of the prime mover 64 has provided thereon the spaced sprocket wheels G8 which engage and drive the chains 'IQ located at the upper surface of the tank walls. The endless drive chains l0 engage the sprocket wheels 'I2 secure to the axle 14 at the opposite end of the tank or basin iii. As illustrated, the upper travel of the drive chain 'I0 is held clear of the carriage by means of the chain coaster wheels 'I6 secured to the upper end of the chain spacing arms 'i8 extending upwardly from the upper sides of the tank or basin ID.

The carriage 28 is secure to the lower travel of the drive chains I0 and as indicated are secured to the axles 22 and 24. Thus, the carriage 20 is moved by means of the drive chains 15.

Means may be provided to automatically reciprocate the carriage 20 along the top 30 of the tank or basin i0 and, as best seen in Fig. 4, a conventional snap-type switch is provided, which is so arranged and wired in the motor circuits that in the center or neutral position the power circuit is open and no current reaches the motor. 'In the up or forward position, as illustrated in Figure 4, the current through the motor elds is such to cause a clockwise rotationy and in the down or reverse position, the field current is such to cause counter-clockwise rotation. As

best. seen inV Figs.y 2 and 3.l a pair of lugs; 82 and 84; are spaced in. one ofthe drive.- chains` l0, these lugs extending laterally and engaging the handle 86 on the snap-switch 8.1i, as best seen in Figs. et and 5.. Thus, as the lug- 82 engages the handle 8.5, and pushes the handle to. the snap. position, the. motorwifll be, cut. ofi and any rotation will be due to, the coasting ofn the carri-age, preferably the devicev coasting until the Switch reaches the lower snap. point and the motor starts driving in the reversev direction. The purpose of the neutral orcoast. operation is to prevent instant. reversal ofthe motor which 'would' be damagingv thereto. Thus, the chain is. driven reversely until such time as the lug 84, engages the handle 8: of the switch. fili which reverses the operation described. The lugs are soy positioned in the driving chain so that reversal occurs tust prior to the time the scraper flight 42 approaches-the edge.4 of the sump t6 and just before the scraper flight 4.2- reaches the. other end of the tank Ira.

It seems apparent that the lugs 8.4 and 86 may conveniently be spaced or respaced in adapting or adjusting the apparatus for use with tanks and basins of varied size and shape.

In operation influent having suspended solids enters the inlet port I2, the solids or sediment settling tothe bottom or sediment collecting surface I8 of the tank l0, the eiuent leaving the tank by the outlet port I4. The carriage 2,53 is reciprocated along the tank top by means of the motor 64 driving the driving chains 10 which are secured to the carriage 20. As the carriage and scraper night is driven forwardly or toward the sump or sludge hopper |16, itl is4 in a lower-most position and engages the bottom or solid collecting surface I8 thereby moving the solids toward the hopper I6. Upon approaching the hopper I6 the rotator arm 54 engages the rotator stop 56 elevating the latter and thereby rotating the sleeve 52, which elevates the scraper flight 42 as seen in Fig. 2. As indicated, the slight bow at the upper portions of the arms 46 effect a gravitational lock which maintains the carriage and associated parts in the upper position indicated in Fig. 2 during reverse movement of the carriage. Substantially simultaneously with the elevation of the scraper ilight 42 the lug 82 engages the handle 86 of the snap-switch 80 to effect a reversal of the motor, thereby moving the carriage and associated parts or reciprocating it toward the opposite end. As the carriage 2Q and associated parts approach the opposite end, the rotator arm 54 is engaged by the rotator stop S2 which moves the arm 54 forwardly thereby rotating the sleeve 52 forwardly to a point where the gravitational lock of the arms is overcome and, by gravity, the carrier flight 42 assumes the lower position as indicated in Figs. l and 3. Substantially simultaneously therewith the lug 84 engages the handle E36 of the snap-switch 89 from the side opposite to that which the lug 84 engaged, thereby effecting a reversal of the motor G4 in the manner indicated. The scraper iiight 42 is thus in scraping or solid-moving position and moves toward the hopper or sump I6. The cycle is automatically repeated as the carriage and scraper flight reciprocate along the tank I0 and solids may be removed from the hopper I6 in any desired or conventional manner, such as by gravity now through a pipe (not shown) at the bottom of the hopper I6.

t will be understood that the invention is not limited to the speciiic features and construction herein described, but can be embodied in other ienne without, departure from. the spirit; ci

invention as defined by the claims., Eer while. a, single scraper flight is, iii described for the` purpose of disclosure, several of such flights may be used to, scrape,` sediment or sludge into several sludge banners or sumps. In addition, any type or reversing means for the tliigh-t may be utilized and the invention may be adapted for use with any type of sediment 0.15 sludger settlingtank.

From the. foregoing it` will be seen that. this. invention isone Well adapted to. attainA all of the. ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious; and which are inherent to the apparatus.l

It will be understood that. certain features and subcombinations are of utility' and may be eme ployed without reference to. other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated byl and is within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for separating solids from liquids in settling tanks and the like comprising, a car-.-Y riage reciprocal along the tank, means forrecip.v rocating the carriage along the tank, a sleeve rotatablyl secured to the carriage, spaced arms extending downwardly from such carriage, carrierarms telescopieal-ly secured to the lowerpor tion of such iii-st mentioned arms, such carrier arms adapted to telescope longitudinally of such first` mentioned arms, a scraperflight secu-red to the iowerportion of such carrier arms and adapted to scrape solids settled on the bottom of the tank, a pair of arms rigidly secured to and extending forwardly from such sleeve, links pivotally secured te and extendingupwardly and forwardly from said carrier arms and pivotally secured to free ends of such pair of arms, such links being bowed backwardly thereby providing a gravitational lock when the pair of arms are extending upwardly in substantially vertical position, and means on such sleeve engageable by means disposed at each end of the .tank to rotate the sleeve at one end of the tank in one direction for raising such pair of arms to a substantially vertical position and at the other end of the tank in the other direction for lowering such pair of arms thereby raising and lowering the scraper flight.

2. Apparatus for separating solids from liquids in settling tanks and the like comprising, a carriage reciprocal along the tank, means for reciprocating the carriage along the tank, a sleeve rotatably secured to the carriage, spaced arms extending downwardly from such carriage, carrier arms slidably secured to the lower portion of such first mentioned arms, such carrier arms adapted to slide longitudinally of such first mentioned arms, a scraper flight secured to the lower portion of such carrier arms and adapted to scrape solids settled on the bottom of the tank, a pair of arms rigidly secured to and extending forwardly from such sleeve, links pivotally secured to and extending upwardly and forwardly from said carrier arms and pivotally secured to free ends of such pair of arms, such links being bowed backwardly at their upper portions thereby providing a gravitational lock when the pair of arms are extending upwardly in substantially vertical position, and means on such sleeve engageable by means disposed at each end of the tank to rotate the sleeve at one end of the tank in one direction for raising such pair of arms to substantially vertical position and at the other end of the tank in the other direction for lowering such pair of arms thereby raising and lowering the scraper flight.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 where the means for reciprocating the carriage along the tank is positioned at the top of the tank.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 where the means for reciprocating the carriage along the tank includes a chain drive positioned along the top of the ltank and secured to the carriage.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 where the means for reciprocating the carriage along the tank includes a prime mover, a chain drive driven by the prime mover, such chain drive positioned along the top of the tank and secured to the carriage, a snap switch for automatically reversing the prime mover, and spaced lugs on such chain drive adapted to engage the snap switch for automatically reversing the prime mover and thereby the chain drive for reciprocating the carriage along the tank.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 where the snap switch is so arranged and wired in the motor circuits 'of the prime mover that in the neutral position the power circuit is open and no current reaches the motor whereby upon one of the lugs iirst engaging the snap switch the snap switch will be moved to neutral position, coasting of the carriage causing the lug to move the snap switch from the neutral position to reverse position for reversing the prime mover.

7. Apparatus for separating solids from liquids in settling tanks and the like comprising, a carriage reciprocal along the tank, means for reciprocating the carriage along the tank, a sleeve rotatably secured to the carriage, spaced arms extending downwardly from such carriage, carrier arms slidably secured to the lower portion of such first-mentioned arms, such carrier arms adapted to slide longitudinally of such first-mentioned arms, a scraper ilight secured to the lower portion of such carrier arms and adapted to scrape solids settled on the bottom of the tank, a pair of arms rigidly secured to and extending forwardly from such sleeve, links pivotally secured to and extending upwardly and forwardly from said carrier arms and pivotally secured to free ends of such pair of arms, and means on such sleeve engageable by means disposed at each end of the tank to rotate the sleeve at one end of the tank in one direction for raising such pair of arms to substantially vertical position and at the other end of the tank in the other direction for lowering such pair of arms thereby raising and lowering the scraper flight.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 where the engageable means of the sleeve and the means disposed at each end of the .tank to rotate the sleeve comprise ball and socket elements.

RICHARD L. KNOWLTON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,911,008 Withington May 23, 1933 2,033,291 Laughlin et al Mar. 10, 1936 2,099,654 Lund Nov. 16, 1937 2,101,081 Lund Dec. 7, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 523,422 Great Britain July l5, 1940 

1. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS IN SETTLING TANKS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, A CARRIAGE RECIPROCAL ALONG THE TANK, MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING THE CARRIAGE ALONG THE TANK, A SLEEVE ROTATABLY SECURED TO THE CARRIAGE, SPACED ARMS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SUCH CARRIAGE, CARRIER ARMS TELESCOPICALLY SECURED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SUCH FIRST MENTIONED ARMS, SUCH CARRIER ARMS ADAPTED TO TELESCOPE LONGITUDINALLY OF SUCH FIRST MENTIONED ARMS, A SCRAPER FIGHT SECURED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SUCH CARRIER ARMS AND ADAPTED TO SCRAPE SOLIDS SETTLED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK, A PAIR OF ARMS RIGIDLY SECURED TO AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SUCH SLEEVE, LINKS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND FORWARDLY FROM SAID CARRIER ARMS AND PIVOTALLY SECURED TO FREE ENDS OF SUCH PAIR OF ARMS, SUCH LINKS BEING BOWED BACKWARDLY THEREBY PROVIDING A GRAVITATIONAL LOCK WHEN THE PAIR OF ARMS ARE EXTENDING UPWARDLY IN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION, AND MEANS ON SUCH SLEEVE ENGAGEABLE BY MEANS DISPOSED AT EACH END OF THE TANK TO ROTATE THE SLEEVE AT ONE END OF THE TANK IN ONE DIRECTION FOR RAISING SUCH PAIR OF ARMS TO A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION AND AT THE OTHER END OF THE TANK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION FOR LOWERING SUCH PAIR OF ARMS THEREBY RAISING AND LOWERING THE SCRAPER FLIGHT. 